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Important Health Facts and Oxygen

Fact : According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, about 50 million American adults (one out of four people) have high blood pressure, or hypertension. It’s more common in men, African Americans, the elderly, and those who drink, are overweight, or take oral contraceptives. Blood pressure is the measure of force created by the heart as it pumps Blood and Oxygen through the body. Normal blood pressure is less than 140 over 90. Blood pressure is high when it reaches 140 over 90 or higher.

Fact : A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and dies. Heart disease is still the leading killer in the U.S. According to the American Heart Association, about 1.1 million American men and women will have a heart attack; roughly 40 percent of them will die from it. Of those who survive, 25 percent of men and 38 percent of women will die within a year. Within six years, 18 percent of men and 35 percent of women will have another heart attack.

Fact : A heart attack can occur anytime: at work or play, while you're resting or in the middle of a strenuous workout. Heart attacks result from atherosclerosis in the arteries that carry blood , food and Oxygen to the heart muscle.

Fact : Lack of physical activity and Oxygen is a risk factor for heart disease. That’s why it’s important to realize that not only is exercise fun, it’s good for your health

Fact : Your heart is a very strong muscle that pumps blood through miles and miles of blood vessels to every part of your body. Blood vessels are normally soft, elastic tubes that stretch or expand to make room for the blood to flow through them

Fact : The common cold is caused by one of more than 200 different viruses. Colds are one of the most common illnesses throughout the world. Here in the United States ,researchers estimate Americans get more than 60 million colds every year. Children tend to get the most colds – about six to ten a year

Fact : Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men and women and the third leading cause of cancer death. According to the American Cancer Society, about 98,200 cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 48,100 people will die from it

Fact : According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, about 2.3 million Americans have Epilepsy. Roughly 181,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

Fact : According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million Americans have diabetes. About 798,000 will be diagnosed this year. It’s the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. It can also lead to several serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, and amputations.

Fact : The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates 15 million Americans have asthma (9 million of whom are children). Each year, the condition leads to 10.4 million visits to doctors' offices, 1.8 million visits to emergency rooms, and 468,000 hospitalizations. Roughly 5400 die from it annually.Asthma can be triggered by a number of different factors, such as respiratory infection, exercise, certain foods or medications, or anxiety.

Fact : The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center estimates that four million Americans have the disease and 360,000 new cases occur every year. With our aging population, researchers expect it will affect 14 million people in the U.S. by the middle of this century.Alzheimer's disease is a condition causing a progressive decline in thought, memory, and language. It's the most common cause of dementia in people 65 and older.

Fact : According to the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association, more than 22 million American adults are affected by depression. Although it can occur at any age, symptoms commonly occur between 20 and 50. Women are affected about twice as often as men. Depression is a condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness. Patients may feel tired, sluggish, or restless and have difficulty thinking, remembering, or concentrating.

Fact : A survey by the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association found that half of all patients experiencing side effects from antidepressants stopped taking their medications. One of the problems associated with many antidepressants is side effects. The drugs can cause blurred vision, light-headedness, drowsiness, restlessness, confusion, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, sweating, rapid heartbeat, or low blood pressure. Some people also experience sexual side effects

Fact : The Arthritis Foundation estimates osteoarthritis affects 20.7 million Americans (it’s the most common form of arthritis). By 65, more than half of all Americans have some degree of the disease in at least one joint. The joints most commonly affected are those in the fingers, spine, hips, knees, and feet.Osteoarthritis is an inflammation of the joints caused by a breakdown of joint cartilage. Surfaces of the ends of the bones lack protection and rub against each other during movement, causing joint stiffness and pain.

Fact : According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, four out of every five adults in the U.S. will have back pain at some point in their lives. It’s the second most common reason for lost work days (after the common cold) and the fifth most common reason for visits to doctors’ offices.There are many different causes for low back pain. Muscle sprain or strain can occur by lifting too much (or lifting improperly) or through a sudden forceful movement on the back. Smoking and being overweight or out of shape increases the risk of back injury.

Fact : According to the Brain Tumor Society, more than 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a brain tumor over the next year. In children and young adults, brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer death. The cause is unknown, but certain factors can increase its risk, such as exposure to radiation or having an impaired immune system.

Fact : Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.2 million cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. More than 552,000 Americans will die of it. Among men, the top three cancer diagnoses are expected to be prostate cancer (180,400 cases), lung cancer (89,500 cases), and colorectal cancer (63,600). The leading types of cancer among women are breast cancer (182,800 cases), lung cancer (74,600), and colorectal cancer (66,600 cases).

Fact : Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. According to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, it affects one out of every 330 American children (under age 19). Each year, roughly 11,000 children and teens are diagnosed with cancer. And the incidence is rising – by almost 1 percent a year.

Fact : According to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association about seven to ten million Americans have Fibromyalgia . It affects people of all ages and is about seven to twenty times more common in women than in men. Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by muscle pain and fatigue. Even once a diagnosis is made, doctors don’t have very effective treatments. Traditional pain medications often aren’t very helpful.

Fact : In an average flu season roughly 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu complications.Influenza (commonly referred to as the flu) is a respiratory infection with the influenza virus. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, cough, and fatigue. Most people recover from the flu within a week or two. However, for some, the flu can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, or make other health problems (such as lung or heart disease) worse

Fact : The American Council for Headache Education estimates 25 to 30 million Americans suffer from migraines. They affect six percent of men and about 18 percent of women. A migraine is a type of headache causing throbbing, intense pain, usually on one side of the head. The pain can vary in intensity and last up to several hours. Some patients have severe, debilitating head pain. Other symptoms can include: nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.

Fact : According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3.9 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C. Roughly 36,000 new cases occur every year. It's most commonly acquired through contact with contaminated blood or blood products. Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus .

Fact : The American Cancer Society estimates 15,300 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 13,800 Americans will die from an Infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C which also increases the risk of liver cancer.

Fact : For the average American female, Menopause occurs naturally around age 50 or 51. Menopause is the time when a woman experiences her last menstrual period.

Fact : According to the American Cancer Society, 182,800 cases of female breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year; about 41,200 women will die from it. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women and the second leading cause of cancer death. For patients whose cancers haven’t spread beyond the breast, five-year survival rates are about 98 to 100 percent.

Fact : According to the National Institutes of Health, more than half of all adults in the U.S. (roughly 97.1 million) have a body mass index of 25 or greater and are overweight. Being overweight increases the risk of several chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer.

Fact : The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates 10 million Americans have Osteoporosis. Nearly twice as many (roughly 18 million) have low bone mass and are at risk for developing osteoporosis. It’s four times more common among women than men. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass, which causes the bones to thin and become susceptible to breaks or fractures.

Fact : According to the American Cancer Society, this year, about 25,200 new cases of Ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and about 14,500 women will die from the cancer. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women.

Fact : According to the National Parkinson Foundation up to 1.5 million Americans are affected by the disease. It's most commonly diagnosed after 50. In rare cases, it can occur at younger ages. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates five to ten percent of Parkinson's patients are diagnosed before 40.Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects a small area in the middle of the brain, called the substantia nigra.

Fact : The American Cancer Society estimates 47,700 new cases of Melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. About 7700 people will die from it. Research shows rates of melanoma are rising faster than any other type of cancer. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that forms in melanocytes, the pigmented cells that give skin its color.

Fact : According to The Thyroid Society, about 5 million Americans have the condition of Hypothyroidism . It’s more common in women than in men, and may affect up to ten percent of women over 65. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone.With lower levels of thyroid hormone, patients may experience tiredness or fatigue, sleepiness, depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, weight gain, dry and coarse skin and hair, constipation, intolerance to cold, a hoarse or husky voice, muscle cramps and increased menstrual flow